The night illumination plan of Chandigarh tourism has hit a dead-end with UT failing to get works started on the project. Earlier, the department had sought ratification of the project plans, prepared by Chandigarh College of Architecture from a private consultant, but following hue and cry over the appointment of an outside consultant, the plans were shelved.

The proposal included illumination of the Capitol Complex as well as some of the tourist destinations. A tour of the city at night on CITCO's hop-on hop-off bus was also proposed. The buildings as well as monuments were to be illuminated and an artist's impression of the illumination had also been prepared. Tourists were to be given a guided tour of the area on the hop-on hop-off bus. 

However, questions had been raised about the viability of such a plan with tight security and various restrictions to visit the Capitol Complex even in the morning, what UT could do to allow night visits to the complex as per a report in TOI by Abhijit Prashar.

Apart from this, there were plans to light up entry points to the city on the peripheral routes at Mullanpur, Mohali and Panchkula. The entry points were also to be landscaped. An amount of around Rs 4 crore was sanctioned for the purpose by the ministry of tourism.

The other places to be illuminated were Sukhna Lake, where partial illumination has taken place, and Rock Garden.

CITCO general manager (tourism) A K Malhotra said, "The project has been a little slow to take off. However, tenders have been invited from private entities for the project and very soon we would be allocating works to be completed in a specified period of time."